A Model T Car on a new Dollar coin?

News - March 2007

US government proposes Automobile coin in 2010.

A new Model T commemorative US dollar coin may be
on the horizon. Bills in both the US House of Representatives and US
Senate are proposing a special minting of $ coins. If all goes as
planned the US will celebrate the 100th year of the
introduction of the Ford Model T car with a new coin in 2010.

The Model T car was introduced in 1908. However,
it was in 1910 that the first “assembly line” was used to build them.
This new breakthrough in manufacturing allowed companies to pass on
savings through lower costs to the public. The end result was a low
cost automobile, which over 15 million people purchased during the next
17 years. The age of the automobile and the assembly line had arrived.

Maximum number of coins to be minted is 500,000 commemorative silver dollars.
These car coins will be made of real coin silver and sold at a premium by
the United States government mint. Part of the profits from the sale of these “T-dollars”
will go to the “Henry Ford” institute and assist with spreading the
history of the automobile. Issuance of the coins will coincide with the 100th
anniversary of the opening of the Highland Park Ford car assembly plant.

Normally the mint will make commemorative silver dollars
only during the year they are intended to celebrate. It is very
likely that these new silver car coins will only be minted during the
year 2010 and no more automobile dollars will be made thereafter.

Facts about the Model-T Ford automobile:

Model T cars were manufactured from 1908 to 1927 by Ford Motor
Corporation

Often credited as the first true Assembly line
process in major manufacturing.

The Highland Park Michigan Ford plant is
credited with being the first with an automobile assembly plant.

The Model T car was so popular, at one time the
it was manufactured
in 20 different countries.

Its low cost, affordability to many people, ruggedness and simple
reliability made it a success.

A panel of automobile experts elected the Model T car as
the “Car of the Century”, partially because of the cars widespread influence it had
on American life and manufacturing.